US4944233A - Hatch arrangement for covered hopper cars - Google Patents
Hatch arrangement for covered hopper cars Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US4944233A US4944233A US07/364,872 US36487289A US4944233A US 4944233 A US4944233 A US 4944233A US 36487289 A US36487289 A US 36487289A US 4944233 A US4944233 A US 4944233A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cover
- strap
- car
- hatch
- assembly
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- F16J13/00—Covers or similar closure members for pressure vessels in general
- F16J13/02—Detachable closure members; Means for tightening closures
- F16J13/04—Detachable closure members; Means for tightening closures attached with a bridge member
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61D—BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES
- B61D17/00—Construction details of vehicle bodies
- B61D17/04—Construction details of vehicle bodies with bodies of metal; with composite, e.g. metal and wood body structures
- B61D17/12—Roofs
- B61D17/16—Hatches in roofs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61D—BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES
- B61D7/00—Hopper cars
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
- B65D90/10—Manholes; Inspection openings; Covers therefor
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- F16J13/00—Covers or similar closure members for pressure vessels in general
- F16J13/16—Pivoted closures
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T292/00—Closure fasteners
- Y10T292/20—Clamps
- Y10T292/202—Hatch fastener
Definitions
- This invention relates to railway cars and, more particularly, to a hatch cover assembly for a railway hopper car.
- Railway cars such as covered hopper railway cars are used to move various types of lading.
- a car typically has a number of hoppers into which lading is loaded through an opening or hatch in the roof of the car.
- the hatch has a cover and the cover has an associated latching mechanism by which the hatch can be locked in a closed position when the car is moved.
- the hatch for each hopper is aligned along the center line of the railway car and the hatch is oriented so its opening and closing movement is also the center line of the railway car.
- the latching mechanism for the hatch is mounted on top of the hatch cover and its axis of operation is also along the center line of the car.
- the American Association of Rails has established rules and regulations with respect to the design of railway cars such as covered hopper cars.
- One of the elements covered by these specifications is the height of the car. Included in this specification is not only the height of the car, but also the height of the hatch, hatch cover, and latching mechanism for the hatch cover. If, the height (or profile) of the hatch cover and its associated latching mechanism could be reduced, the roof height of the car could be correspondingly raised; so while the overall height remains within the AAR specifications, the carrying capacity of the car could be substantially increased.
- a hatch cover assembly for a railway car; the provision of such an assembly which is substantially lower in height than conventional hatch cover assemblies, therefor allowing the roof of the car to be raised while maintaining the overall height of the car within AAR specifications; and, the provision of such hatch cover assembly which is easy to use yet securely latches the cover over a hatch to protect the lading in the car.
- a hatch cover assembly for a railway car comprises a hatch cover hingedly mounted to a roof of the car for pivotal movement of the cover to open and close a hatch in the roof of the car.
- the axis about which the hinging movement occurs is perpendicular to the center line of the car.
- a locking strap is rotationally mounted to the hatch cover for movement between a cover locking position and a cover unlocking position. Movement of the strap to its cover locking position prevents movement of the cover to open the latch.
- the longitudinal axis of the strap when the cover is in its locking position, is perpendicular to the center line of the car.
- a latch mechanism adjacent the cover latches the strap in its cover locking position to prevent movement of the strap.
- FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a hatch cover assembly of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly
- FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view, partly in section, of the assembly
- FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 3;
- FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 3;
- FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6--6 in FIG. 5.
- a hatch cover assembly 1 for a railway car C is for use on a covered hopper type of railway car.
- car C has one or more hoppers H which are filled with a lading transported in the car.
- Car C has a roof R which slopes downwardly from the center line of the car toward each side thereof (as shown in FIG. 3).
- An opening 3 is formed in the roof to provide an inlet by which lading is loaded into the car.
- the opening is circular in shape and is defined by a circumferential ring 5.
- the height of ring 5 is such as to extend slightly above the line of roof R.
- Assembly 1 includes a round hatch cover 7 and a hinge assembly 9 for hingedly mounting the hatch cover to the roof of the car.
- Assembly 9 includes a pair of spaced apart mounting brackets 11 which are mounted parallel to each other and to the center line CL of car C. Brackets 11 are spaced apart an equal distance on either side of the center line.
- Each bracket has a vertical slot 13 sized to receive a bolt 15.
- Hatch cover 7 has a pair of spaced apart, parallel rearward extensions 17. The spacing between the extensions is less than the spacing between the brackets and the length of the extensions is such that they fit between the brackets.
- Each extension has a transverse bore 19 through which the respective bolts 15 fit.
- Respective nuts 21 capture the bolts 15 to mount the hatch cover to the hinge assembly.
- the center line of the hatch cover corresponds to the center line of the railway car.
- the axis about which the hatch cover pivots, when it is raised and lowered to open and close the hatch, is perpendicular to the center line of the car.
- an extension 23 projects forwardly from the front of the hatch cover.
- the extension may be integrally formed with the hatch cover, and has a forwardly extending lip 25 which can be gripped by a worker to raise and lower the hatch.
- a circumferential groove 27 is formed on the underside of the hatch cover, the groove having the same diameter as that of ring 5.
- a circumferential seal 29 fits in groove 27 to form a seal with ring 5 when the hatch cover is closed.
- Assembly 1 next includes a locking strap 31 which is rotationally mounted to hatch cover 7 for movement between a cover locking position and a cover unlocking position.
- Strap 31 has a central section 33 the length of which exceeds the diameter of hatch cover 7.
- Each end of section 33 is downwardly turned as indicated at 35 and 37 respectively. These downwardly turned sections extend slightly below the bottom of hatch cover 7 and each is then turned outwardly to form a respective end extension 39 and 41.
- End extension 39 extends outwardly a greater distance than end extension 41.
- the width of end extensions 39 and 41 is less than that of section 33.
- section 33 increases in width from the ends thereof toward the center of the hatch cover.
- Section 33 of the strap has a circular recess 43 formed therein, the center of this recess being at the center line of the railway car.
- a central opening 45 is formed in the bottom of this recess.
- Hatch cover 7 has a collar 47 formed in it, the collar, for example, being a steel insert molded in place in the hatch cover.
- the collar has an upstanding or upright projection 49 extending upwardly through opening 45.
- Projection 49 has a central threaded bore 51 into which is received a bolt 53.
- a washer 55 fits between the head of bolt 53 and collar 49, the outer diameter of the washer being greater than that of projection 49.
- Strap 31 is now free to rotate about collar 49 and is attached to the hatch cover by means of the bolt and washer.
- the rotational movement of strap 31 is limited by a pair of spaced apart lugs 57A and 59A which project outwardly from the side of the hatch cover to engage end extension 39 of the strap.
- a second pair of spaced apart lugs 57B and 59B are diametrically opposed to the first pair of lugs and engage end extension 41 of the strap to aid in limiting the rotational movement of the strap.
- Assembly 1 further includes a latching mechanism 61 which is adjacent hatch cover 7.
- the latching mechanism is used to latch or lock strap 31 in its cover locking position to prevent movement of the strap.
- the latch mechanism first includes a hold-down means 63 which engages end 39 of the strap when the strap is moved to its cover locking position.
- a hatch hold-down lug 65 is mounted to roof R of the railway car.
- a post 67 is attached to the lug by a bolt 69, the post being mounted vertically to the lug.
- An over-center cam 71 has an inverted U-shape. Side plates 73 of the cam are attached to post 67 by a connector pin 75.
- a top plate 76 extends between side plates 73 of the cam, this top plate beginning at a point forward of the connection point of the side plates to port 67.
- Plate 76 facilitates manual movement of the cam between its dashed line position shown in FIG. 2, and its solid line position shown in the Figure.
- end extension 39 of the latch has a generally rectangular shaped notch 77. The width of this notch is less than the spacing between the side plates of the cam. The notch facilitates movement of end extension 39 beneath cam 71.
- the latch is in its dashed line position, shown in FIG. 2, when latch 31 is moved to the solid line position shown in FIG. 1. This is the locking position for the hatch cover.
- a wear plate 79 affixed to the top of end extension 39, is beneath the cam. Rotation of the cam to is solid line position shown in FIG. 2 now locks end 39 of the latch in place.
- latch mechanism 61 also includes a retainer 81.
- This retainer is engaged by end 41 of the latch when the latch is moved to its cover locking position.
- Retainer 81 includes a lug 83 secured to roof R of the railway car.
- the lug has an upwardly extending C-shaped retainer 85 integrally formed with the lug.
- End extension 41 of the strap is received in the open end of retainer 85.
- a depending lip 87 is formed at the upper end of the opening to aid in retaining end 41 of the strap in place.
- the advantage of the hatch cover assembly above described is that the profile of the assembly is lower than that of conventional hatch cover assemblies.
- the hatch cover assembly above described is two inches (2") lower. Since the height of a covered hopper car is specified by American Association of Rails (AAR) specifications, lowering the profile of the hatch cover assembly means roof R of the railway car can be raised an equivalent distance without violating the specifications. This translates into a volumetric increase in the lading capacities of the railway car. For example, such lading capacity increase may be on the order of two and one-half percent (2.5%) or approximately one-hundred-fifty cubic feet (150 cu. ft.).
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Platform Screen Doors And Railroad Systems (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (15)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/364,872 US4944233A (en) | 1989-06-12 | 1989-06-12 | Hatch arrangement for covered hopper cars |
CA 2014378 CA2014378A1 (en) | 1989-06-12 | 1990-04-11 | Hatch arrangement for covered hopper cars |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/364,872 US4944233A (en) | 1989-06-12 | 1989-06-12 | Hatch arrangement for covered hopper cars |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US4944233A true US4944233A (en) | 1990-07-31 |
Family
ID=23436448
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US07/364,872 Expired - Fee Related US4944233A (en) | 1989-06-12 | 1989-06-12 | Hatch arrangement for covered hopper cars |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US4944233A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2014378A1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0853120A2 (en) * | 1997-01-14 | 1998-07-15 | Anton Steinecker Maschinenfabrik GmbH | Brew kettle with manhole |
US5960980A (en) * | 1997-06-03 | 1999-10-05 | Zeftek, Inc. | Vented hatch cover |
US6050199A (en) * | 1998-03-27 | 2000-04-18 | Zeftek, Inc. | Hatch cover sealing device |
US6293051B1 (en) | 2000-02-21 | 2001-09-25 | Dcl, Inc. | Automated hatch |
US6494338B1 (en) | 2000-10-12 | 2002-12-17 | Trn Business Trust | Hatch cover gasket |
US20090158959A1 (en) * | 2007-12-20 | 2009-06-25 | Schultz Francis R | Hatch Cover For A Covered Railroad Car Having Removable Closure and Screen Member |
US11268301B2 (en) | 2017-04-27 | 2022-03-08 | Reinhard Matye | Automatic hatch for bulk material containers |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3041099A (en) * | 1960-06-14 | 1962-06-26 | Magor Car Corp | Locking means for car roof hatch covers |
US3375612A (en) * | 1966-01-24 | 1968-04-02 | Joseph M. Busuttil | Deck plate and locking mechanism |
US4248160A (en) * | 1979-03-12 | 1981-02-03 | Acf Industries, Incorporated | Railway hatch cover and strap latching assembly |
US4388873A (en) * | 1981-04-30 | 1983-06-21 | Union Tank Car | Railroad vehicle |
-
1989
- 1989-06-12 US US07/364,872 patent/US4944233A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1990
- 1990-04-11 CA CA 2014378 patent/CA2014378A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3041099A (en) * | 1960-06-14 | 1962-06-26 | Magor Car Corp | Locking means for car roof hatch covers |
US3375612A (en) * | 1966-01-24 | 1968-04-02 | Joseph M. Busuttil | Deck plate and locking mechanism |
US4248160A (en) * | 1979-03-12 | 1981-02-03 | Acf Industries, Incorporated | Railway hatch cover and strap latching assembly |
US4388873A (en) * | 1981-04-30 | 1983-06-21 | Union Tank Car | Railroad vehicle |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0853120A2 (en) * | 1997-01-14 | 1998-07-15 | Anton Steinecker Maschinenfabrik GmbH | Brew kettle with manhole |
EP0853120A3 (en) * | 1997-01-14 | 2002-10-16 | Anton Steinecker Maschinenfabrik GmbH | Brew kettle with manhole |
US5960980A (en) * | 1997-06-03 | 1999-10-05 | Zeftek, Inc. | Vented hatch cover |
US6050199A (en) * | 1998-03-27 | 2000-04-18 | Zeftek, Inc. | Hatch cover sealing device |
US6293051B1 (en) | 2000-02-21 | 2001-09-25 | Dcl, Inc. | Automated hatch |
US6494338B1 (en) | 2000-10-12 | 2002-12-17 | Trn Business Trust | Hatch cover gasket |
US20090158959A1 (en) * | 2007-12-20 | 2009-06-25 | Schultz Francis R | Hatch Cover For A Covered Railroad Car Having Removable Closure and Screen Member |
US11268301B2 (en) | 2017-04-27 | 2022-03-08 | Reinhard Matye | Automatic hatch for bulk material containers |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2014378A1 (en) | 1990-12-12 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ACF INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:DUGGE, RICHARD H.;COULBORN, JOHN W.;REEL/FRAME:005880/0860;SIGNING DATES FROM 19910909 TO 19911004 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AMERICAN RAILCAR INDUSTRIES, INC., MISSOURI Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ACF INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED;REEL/FRAME:008744/0054 Effective date: 19971003 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PETITION RELATED TO MAINTENANCE FEES GRANTED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: PMFG); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PETITION RELATED TO MAINTENANCE FEES FILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: PMFP); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
SULP | Surcharge for late payment | ||
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 19980731 |
|
PRDP | Patent reinstated due to the acceptance of a late maintenance fee |
Effective date: 19981204 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20020731 |